Blog

Last week I was doing a Winning Well workshop with the United Nations, when one of the participants, “Pete,” looked at me sincerely and said, “I hear you, and all these tools sound good, and I’m going to use them. But what do you when Winning is impossible?”

If I was facing a terrifying diagnosis, or I was watching my sister die, or my baby was born four months early, it would take a hell of a lot to convince me I was having an “exceptional” patient experience.

How to Win Well When Winning Feels Impossible

“Impossible” missions can crush the soul. You dig the wells, build a school, buy back the guns, and stabilize the village, only to find the next day a revolution causes you to evacuate.

Or despite an army of dedicated doctors and nurses all executing flawlessly together, the baby still dies.

I’m sure you have your stories too.

How do you get back up the next day and try again?

My advice to Pete and anyone else doing work that really matters is simply this.

Focus on the “well,” and the “wins” will follow. The Win with a capital W might be impossible, but the lower case wins add up and change the world.

Be confident your work makes a difference and stand up for what matters.

Stay humble, knowing that the mission is bigger than you and your frustrations.

Identify, reinforce and celebrate the specific behaviors that lead to breakthrough results. Discouraging times often call for a confidence burst.

Invest in the relationships with your team. Reach out to others who can help. Recognize the impact you’re making at a human level.

Karin Hurt helps leaders around the world achieve breakthrough results, without losing their soul. A former Verizon Wireless executive, she has over two decades of experience in sales, customer service, and HR. She was recently named on Inc's list of 100 Great Leadership Speakers, AMA's 50 Leaders to Watch in 2015, & Top Thought Leader in Trust by Trust Across America. She’s the author of 2 books: Winning Well: A Manager's Guide to Getting Results-Without Losing Your Soul and Overcoming an Imperfect Boss.

First of all, incredibly happy to see the Winning Well movement moving around the world. Your advice certainly resonates with me. Not every win will be big and huge but each one is worth recognizing. Moreover, keep it up and ultimately the impact is one you can be proud of as you work towards your mission.

Interested In Booking Karin?

Where will Karin be next?

Let's Grow Leaders

Would you like to dramatically improve your business results? Whether you are an executive, team leader, or entrepreneur, you can learn the secret to building deeper trust and connection with your team. Karin’s dynamic approach will help you develop a game-changing strategy and create a plan for execution » Read More